Lee Daniels Talks About "Precious"

Lee Daniels, director of the new movie "Precious," is generating a lot of Oscar talk this season. Before "Precious," Daniels produced "Monster's Ball," where he cast Halle Berry who then went on to be the first black woman to win a best actress Oscar.

Daniels talked with Reuters about the success of the movie, the Oscar buzz, and his future goals.

When asked about the success of "Precious," Daniels revealed that he was shocked that it has hit mainstream America. He did not realize it was a universal story until a woman started to cry into his arms. He realized that this movie had turned into a "life process" of the young woman it was about.

Although many critics have said that "Precious" has been generating a lot of Oscar talk, Daniels tries his best not to listen to it and not to talk about it. "The minute I embrace that talk, the more my heart will split open if it doesn't come true," he said to Reuters.

Daniels also reveals that although currently he is still in the movie-making business, his ultimate goal in life is to teach underprivileged teenagers who want to learn how to act and direct.